William H. Bowen had a reputation for integrityLawyer, businessman, educator, benefactor, and public servant are just a few of the titles that William H. Bowen held in his long life. Like many successful Arkansans of his generation, he overcame a childhood of rural poverty and personal loss, leaving behind his own obstacles, and in the true definition of greatness, worked to take down obstacles for those around him and for the next generation. He rose to become a trusted advisor to governo...

Why doesn't everyone follow the rules?Why doesn't everyone follow the rules? As a longtime resident of Russellville, I am concerned about the rezoning of residential neighborhoods for commercial business. Although called a PUD (planned unit development), the proposed facility on Marina Way is a commercial business. Employees are hired to care for those who live in this facility. Like it or not, healthcare is a business. I relocated to Russellville in 1986 and have built two medica...

The ArborsI would like to give a pause to the madness that seems to be consuming our town. Most of what I know is what I hear, so I can’t guarantee the accuracy of all the complaints about the PUD (The Arbors) that wants to develop on Marina Road. There is no doubt that this is a nice facility and would be great to have in Russellville. The problem seems to be how this project has been handled by our city government. We have excellent commercial propert...

It's about the Can of Worms, not The ArborsThese are my thoughts on this issue, why I'm concerned as a 45-year resident of the Marina Road area and why I'm VOTING FOR THE REPEAL of Ordinance 2260. Just for the record, I'm not against assisted living centers in Russellville, I don't hate old people and I do not claim to own the mountain. Those are scare tactics by the other side. The developer of The Arbors bought 40 acres in an R-1 zoned area, of which 20 acres would be developed under...

More thoughts about The ArborsI would like to give a pause to the madness that seems to be consuming our town. Most of what I know is what I hear, so I can't guarantee the accuracy of all the complaints about the PUD (The Arbors) that wants to develop on Marina Road. There is no doubt that this is a nice facility and would be great to have in Russellville. The problem seems to be how this project has been handled by our city government. We have excellent commercial propert...

Our e-Edition is live!You've asked for it and we've responded, finally. The Courier e-edition is ramping up and you can be the first to check it out. The user experience on a desktop, mobile phone or tablet is a wonderful way to "read" The Courier anywhere and anytime that's convenient for you. Enjoy the free "open house" for a few weeks while we get the kinks worked out and then we'll announce how to sign up for access and the cost details. Yes, there will be a mo...

Citizens should decide fate of The ArborsIt is quite unfortunate that the legal system had to get involved with the affairs of Russellville in relation to the rezoning for the proposed development of the Arbors. However, this is our governmental system of checks and balances and we must respect it. Having stated this, I would much rather the issue of spot zoning for The Arbors be resolved by the citizens of Russellville than the legal system, and at this point, it appears that it wil...

For The ArborsI've been following with interest the controversial Arbors project. Yesterday I came across an individual's FaceBook posting. It was well written but factually flawed. He made two statements that bear investigating, "There's lots of big lots in very close proximity to the hospital to build and develop assisted living facilities." and "There are vast spaces of property in Russellville that are much closer to the hospital and would not require r...

Opinion: The Arbors would be good for communityI have been in business over 55 years, and this is my first letter to the editor. I strongly support the Arbors Project. To my friends who object, I apologize, however this type of objection is the main reason Russellville is not growing any faster, and we are looked upon as objecting to growth. Reasonable objections, and logical objections are understandable, but there is no reason to object to this Arbors project. It would be like objecting ...

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James R. Ford RussellvilleThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Stop the falsehoods and attacksI feel the need to express my thoughts on the up-coming special election as it relates to The Arbors. This situation is as American as it gets. People hearing the facts and hopefully following their hearts and voting for what they think is best for the majority. I sincerely hope that the citizens of Russellville will remain open minded, seek out the true facts and vote their conscious. I know this is a heated debate and an extremely hot topic....

J. Mayo Williams' extraordinary lifeLife sometimes takes ordinary people on extraordinary adventures. J. Mayo Williams had a career that brought him from Arkansas to an Ivy League education and to the battlefields of Europe. Along the war, Williams became not only one of the charter players for the NFL, he was also a music producer who helped give a platform to some of the most influential blues and jazz artists. Jay Mayo Williams was born in Pine Bluff in September 1894. In 190...

Family members share their humorous tales of PapaMy husband's mother lived with us many years before her death Jan. 1, 2005. Mom and other family members had many "tales" to tell about her father and my husband's grandfather, Milton Hargus, known as "Papa." A few of these I would like to share with you, believing you will find them humorous, as well. Papa was not an affectionate man, they tell me. Let me rephrase this -- he was not a demonstrative man. He did love his family, however, and he...

Rezoning in residential neighborhoods The rezoning of residential property in Russellville is not just an issue that is before our city officials, it is an issue that is central to all citizens. The issue, rezoning of residential property on Marina Way, has not been placed before the voters due to a “flip-flop.” The rezoning of Marina Way was placed before the voters by a judge — a judge who listened to both sides for well over an hour and came to a decision to allow the issue to ...

Judge Andrew Scott's fall from graceReputations are built over years of work. But one act can destroy that reputation forever. Judge Andrew Scott, an early territorial judge, saw a promising career fall apart as he became the epicenter of controversies that ultimately left a fellow judge and a legislator dead. Andrew Horatio Scott was born into a large family in 1789 in Hanover County, Va., in the eastern part of the state. His father was an immigrant from Scotland. When he was ...

Opinion: Rezoning in residential neighborhoodsRezoning in residential neighborhoods The rezoning of residential property in Russellville is not just an issue that is before our city officials, it is an issue that is central to all citizens. The issue, rezoning of residential property on Marina Way, has not been placed before the voters due to a "flip-flop." The rezoning of Marina Way was placed before the voters by a judge -- a judge who listened to both sides for well over an hour and ca...

Dr. Samuel P. Massie broke barriers in science“I’d like to be remembered as a teacher who cared … as a man who tried to make a difference,” once remarked Dr. Samuel P. Massie, a noted chemistry professor and researcher. In his long and distinguished career, the native Arkansan broke barriers in science and society that truly made the world better. Samuel Proctor Massie, Jr., was born in Little Rock in July 1919. It was clear from a very young age that he was a genius. His parents were tea...

Grady Nutt makes a phone callFriends Linda and Dan Jackson (the same Dan Jackson who graduated from Russellville High School in the late 1960s), attended one of their conferences last September and, when they returned, I asked where they'd stayed. Dan grinned and answered, "The Pluck-A-Duck Inn." I howled! This made me think of other funny Arkansas town names. Pretend you are a telephone operator back in the days before "touch tone" phones. When making a long distance cal...

For The ArborsCompelled to address an issue that is before city officials and now apparently due to a flip-flop by the judge who reviewed the suit brought forth about The Arbors. The Arbors, you see, is a multi-million dollar investment ($14 million) scheduled to be constructed for aging members of our community. You probably remember the term "flip-flop" that was used in some political circles a few years back to project extreme negativity. This project wa...

State Sen. Bell transformed higher education“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty,” wrote James Madison, the nation’s fourth president and Father of the Constitution, two centuries ago. The scientific, economic, and social advances of any nation in history are always connected to how its people are to be educated. In Arkansas, progress in education has often been slow, but several important leaders have stepped forward to advance the cause of k...